Shattered Glass

[Red Ranger 1]

Yeah, Aden was a jerk.Bit late now to remember that you're married when you've just slept with someone else.It would serve him right if Belle didn't want anything to do with him now(although she has just slept with a married man, so the moral high ground's a bit out of reach for her at the moment too).Saying that Aden's hurting Jamie by not getting back with Belle is possibly an exaggeration;he'd be happier if he was with parents that loved each other but he doesn't exactly seem neglected or unhappy living with Aden and Kirsty.

Loved the conversation between Belle and Drew and how they both stood their ground whilst not falling out.

[rfran]

This was what I meant every one's going to get hurt and I fear it going to get worse and I don't want that to happen just hoping Aden can separate what is going on between him and Belle and the developing relationship between Belle and Jamie but some how I doubt it.

But just cause I didn't want this to happen doesn't mean it's not good, in fact I'd say characters doing thing that make me cringe is often a good thing as long as they find some sort of resolution at some point.

[jenpen08]

ooh I've been out all night and have only just read this!

Oooh it's soo sad I just want to shake Aden a bit even though I can see why he's torn! Although I'm sure there are a few more twists and turns in store!!

Great update as per usual Louise!!

LOve it!

[Adelle_fan1000]

Of course Aden is gonna go running back to Kirsty

Aden's a Idiot lol

he doesn't know what he is missing!

[KaiyaBlake]

I know Aden's in a hard position but I would be angry too if I were Belle.. Like she said, he came over saying all these things and everything and then just changed his mind after

Aww, I hope that's not the end of them!

Great Chapter Update sooon please?

[bikinikill]

aden is stupid. end of story. belle should smack him, goodness knows i would. hahah

[Inactive User]

Whoa had been reading every chapter of this sequel and wow I loved it. Nice work, Louise! Update soon?? I can't wait to read more!

[Louise_2983]

Chapter 18

“Belle!” he shouted loudly as though she was deaf rather than extremely inebriated.

She looked up at him from where she was perched on the edge of the sofa, a line of beer bottles arranged neatly on the coffee table before her.

“Geoff!” she shouted back almost excitedly before her expression changed to one of confusion.

“You don’t live here anymore silly!...Do you?”

She turned to Annie and questioned her in a whisper.

“Does he?...What year is this again?”

“She was like this when I got home” Annie whispered to Geoff over the top of Belle’s head as if this would somehow magically prevent Belle from hearing her.

“I can hear you Annie!” she shouted out in annoyance.

“Both versions of you” she announced squinting as if her vision was causing her problems.

I’m not sure which one is the real one though so I have to be mad at both of them!”

“Belle how much have you drunk exactly?!” Geoff rested on the soft sofa next to her, gazing at her with a glint of disapproval in his eyes. In contrast his facial expression was brimming with concern.

She looked at the row of bottles before her, so neat they could have been arranged by an obsessive compulsive, and began to count slowly. She moved an outstretched finger over the neck of each

bottle as she whispered numbers to herself.

“Maths and alcohol do not mix” she giggled more to herself than anyone else before beginning to quietly sing.

“Ten green bottles hanging on the wall, ten green bottles...”

She flopped back against the back of the sofa in a fit of laughter as Geoff and Annie watched, slightly disturbed.

“They’re not even green!” she announced highly amused.

“They’re brown!”

“And I think there’s more than 10 but I can’t remember what number comes after 10 right now...or before”

“Belle, maybe you should go to bed and sleep this off?” Geoff suggested delicately and was surprised when she stood up seemingly agreeing with him.

“Woah!” she cried out in shock as her wobbly legs gave way beneath her and she tripped forward, her head only narrowly missing bashing into the coffee table because Geoff instantly grabbed her

around the waist and guided her back to her sitting position on the sofa.

“And if one green bottle should accidentally fall!” she sung loudly, laughing to herself before her gaze wandered down to where Geoff was still clutching at her waist through fear of how she would hurt

herself next.

“Any excuse to get your hands on me hey Geoff?” she grinned in what she believed to be a seductive manner but caused both Geoff and Annie to cringe.

“I’m just worried about you Belle. You’re going to hurt yourself, you’re drunk”

“I’m not drunk!” she protested angrily before grinning at him cheekily.

She leant forward and began to whisper as if she was letting him in on her biggest secret.

“I’m hammered!”

“Not going to argue with you there” he told her sternly, still holding onto her to prevent her from injuring herself.

“It’s allowed! I am a grown up after all!” she proclaimed, annoyed by the looks they were giving her.

“You’re not acting very grown up right now Belle”

“Oh believe me Geoff I know how to act grown up” she whispered huskily, dropping a hand onto his thigh and slowly inching it upwards.

“Belle!” he exclaimed, trying to slap her hand away.

“Oh come on Geoff...you know you want to” she grinned, her fingertips straying into the realm of his inner leg.

“Belle! I’m a married man!”

“You wouldn’t be my first, believe me” she laughed before realising how the sentence may be construed.

“Married man that is...because obviously you wouldn’t be my first”

“Belle, you were married to Aden that doesn’t count”

“We’re we married last night?” she snapped.

“Because if we were he owes me a ring...and cake...ooooh cake would be good right now”

“What’s going on?” he asked as he entered the kitchen, barging straight in without even bothering to feign knocking.

“Aden!” She exclaimed loudly.

“Did you bring my cake? That was so quick, you’re really good!”

“Cake?” he asked confused.

“She’s drunk!” Annie clarified matter of factly.

“What are you doing here?” Geoff looked at Aden expectantly.

“You might just want to leave now because I would put money on you being the reason she’s in this state and I’m not even a gambling man”

“Erm I called him” Annie told him sheepishly. All she’d had to do was utter the words “It’s Belle, I don’t know what to do” and he’d hung up after muttering a brief “I’ll be right there” before she had even

had a chance to explain what was wrong.

“What? Why?!”

“To bring cake duh!” Belle looked at him as if he were stupid.

“Does he look like he’s got any cake Belle?!” Geoff snapped uncharacteristically and she instantly scanned Aden for signs of comfort food.

“You didn’t bring cake” she sighed melodramatically before turning to Annie accusingly.

“Why didn’t you tell him to bring cake?!”

“I didn’t know you wanted cake!” Annie replied defensively before trying to explain herself to Geoff.

“You weren’t answering your phone and I didn’t know who else to call”

“Matilda? Ric? Rachel?”

“Oh yeah” Annie cringed suddenly realising her mistake but it was too late and Belle was already staring menacingly at her ex husband.

“So if you didn’t bring cake...or a diamond ring then what are you doing here? Because if this is another bootycall” she whispered the last word seductively before draping both arms around her

surrogate brother and inching her body closer to him.

“Geoff’s way ahead of you”

“Belle!” both Geoff and Annie cried out in unison, bright scarlet patches appearing on both of their necks and rapidly rising until their cheeks were flushed.

“Give the poor boy a break Belle” Aden mocked with a chuckle.

“He doesn’t know what to do with a real woman”

“He clearly does, he’s got a son!” Annie jumped to her brother’s defence even though the topic of conversation made her squirm.

“With Melody” Aden laughed to himself.

“He does have a point” Belle admitted, her arms still embracing Geoff.

“And I don’t even like Nicole!”

“I split up with Nicole years ago!” Geoff protested.

“And you don’t know what you’re missing mate” Aden told him bluntly.

“Hold on a minute!” Belle scanned Aden’s face suspiciously.

“Do you know what he’s missing?”

“No, of course not!” he replied instantly and noticed Belle sigh visibly in relief.

“But I can imagine” he smirked cheekily.

“I think I’m going to be sick” Annie announced, her complexion turning an unusual shade of green.

“Speaking of Nicole” Belle smiled, her full lips mere centimetres from Geoff’s ear “Someone once told me...”

“Aden” she whispered in an almost verbal footnote, just to clarify.

“That I turn into her when I’m drunk...so if you want reminding of what it was like Geoff...”

“ENOUGH!” he yelled, grabbing hold of her arms and pushing her away from him.

“I’m a married man Belle!”

“That didn’t stop him” she shrugged, nodding towards Aden.

“And here he is back for more! I’m just that good!”

“More?” Annie gulped in shock as the pieces finally fit together in Geoff’s head.

“Hold on” he interrupted.

“What did you mean by another bootycall? Have you two slept together?!”

“We’ve got a son together Geoff” Belle sighed.

“Do I need to explain to you about the birds and the bees? Because if I do then consider my previous offer withdrawn”

“Jamie’s 4” Geoff stated in annoyance.

“I’m talking about more recently, like since you’ve been back”

“Try in the last 24 hours” Belle laughed sarcastically.

“And then you might be nearer the mark”

“You slept together last night?” Annie almost whispered.

“Don’t look at me in that tone of voice Annie Campbell!”

“He’s married Belle!”

“He’s married, I’m not!

“That doesn’t make you any better than him”

“No it doesn’t! It just makes me stupid because he told me he loved me and that he missed me and that it was so right and then as soon as he’d got what he wanted he ran off back to her!”

“You used her” Geoff suddenly turned to Aden, disappointed.

“It wasn’t like that!” Aden snapped.

“But it’s got nothing to do with you anyway, either of you. It’s between me and her”

“Look at her!” Geoff yelled, his resolve to remain calm flying out of the window.

“She’s a mess because of you!”

“Aden?” Belle interrupted in a whisper.

“What?” he asked, his voice suddenly soft as though Geoff’s accusations had at least had some sort of effect.

“Go home, back to your wife”

“Not until I know you’re ok”

“You better move in then” she laughed to herself.

“Belle” he sighed solemnly.

“Go home Aden. I don’t know what you came here for but I’ve got a pretty good idea and it’s not on the menu. I am no longer dish of the day, please check the boards for today’s specials” she laughed

loudly but the three pairs of eyes staring back at her could clearly see the pain she was trying to mask.

“I didn’t come here for that”

“Oh yeah I forgot! We already did that! Who’ve you come to try your luck with tonight? Annie? Or is it Geoff you’ve got your eye on hey? Your luck’s in Geoff, we all want a piece of you tonight!”

“Belle!” all three of them snapped.

“But then” she giggled.

“Given there’s three of you right now we could all have a go”

“No one is “Having a go” as you so nicely put it” he told her adamantly.

“No, even your wife doesn’t get that privilege does she Aden?”

“I told you that in confidence” he hissed glancing at the uncomfortable looks on both Geoff and Annie’s faces as they shifted in their seats.

“Annie and Geoff won’t tell!” she proclaimed loudly.

“Especially not Geoff, he’s a man of the cloth! Although I’ve never been sure what type of cloth that means...” she laughed to herself at high volume.

“And Annie’s better at keeping secrets than...than...someone who is very good at keeping secrets!”

“We won’t say anything” Annie hurried to assure Aden, more concerned about people’s opinion of her if she gossiped than Aden’s feelings.

“I’m sorry” Belle whispered, looking Aden directly in the eye.

“You’re drunk it’s not a crime”

“Oh I’d check the statute books if I were you sheriff” she giggled.

“Drunk and in charge of a broken heart...I think it might carry a hefty sentence”

“I think I can let you off with a caution this time” he smirked in spite of himself, he couldn’t resist their playful banter. He’s spent almost 5 years longing for it back, he’d take whatever he could get now.

“Wait a minute!” Geoff interrupted.

“No way am I letting you two flirt like nothing’s happened. Go home Aden”

“Wait I was trying to apologise!” Belle cried, slapping Geoff on the arm. Hard.

“You don’t have anything to apologise for Belle” Aden whispered honestly.

“I’m the screwed up one who can’t work out what to do for the best. You know what you want and you’re not afraid to ask for it and you should never apologise for that”

“Right now all I want” She declared dramatically.

“Is another drink!”

“No way!” Aden exclaimed trying to stop her as she stumbled towards the fridge, the hand trailing limply at her side knocking over the first beer bottle in the line and creating a domino effect as she

went. He couldn’t catch her in time and she flung open the fridge dramatically.

“Ok!” she shouted accusingly.

“Who drunk the fridge dry?!”

Aden couldn’t help but laugh at her as Geoff and Annie stared in disbelief.

“Don’t say anything” Belle told Aden in what she believed to be a whisper but was actually a bellow.

“But I think Annie’s got a drink problem!”

“I do not!” Annie cried.

“Ok. Bedtime for you” Aden chuckled, gently placing a hand on each of her upper arms and guiding her towards her bedroom.

“You are not going anywhere near my bedroom!” she protested.

“As the new lady of the house” she announced with a deafening chuckle.

“I ban you from my bedroom and revoke your bedroom window privileges with immediate effect!”

“Fine” he replied letting go of her arms and nudging her towards the bedroom.

She managed to get to the door with only a few stumbles but failed to stop when she should have done, her head bouncing off the closed doors.

“Who put that door there?!” she cried accusingly before turning the handle and pulling it rather than pushing it.

“And why won’t it open?!”

Aden walked up behind her and without a word placed his hand over hers and turned the handle with a push. Not expecting it Belle fell forward into a heap on the floor.

“Now look what you’ve done!” she cried as he bent down to try and help her up.

“No! Stay back, you’re not allowed in here remember?!”

“Well someone’s got to help you up, you can’t spend all night there”

“I’ll do it” Geoff told him, jumping up from the sofa.

“I knew you wanted me Geoff!” Belle giggled.

“You just can’t wait to get into my bedroom can you?”

“On second thoughts maybe that’s not such a good idea”

“Why don’t you just go home Geoff, I’ll deal with this” Aden tried to assure him.

“What like you dealt with her last night?”

“Look at her Geoff! Do you really think I’d take advantage of her when she’s in such a state she can’t even remember how to open a door?”

“I guess not, I guess even you wouldn’t do that”

“No I wouldn’t”

“Then I will go because Mel’s expecting me home”

“I’m coming with you!” Annie exclaimed jumping up and following him out of the house as Aden looked down at Belle.

“Come on you, get up” he instructed with a small smile.

“No” she shook her head adamantly.

“I’m staying here”

“That’s what you think” he laughed as he scooped her up in his arms and carried her over to the bed.

“You’ll do anything to get your hands on me won’t you?” she questioned as he deposited her on the soft mattress.

“You don’t exactly make it difficult for me Belle”

“Oh of course I don’t because I’m a skank, I remember now!” she snapped in annoyance.

“I’m a skank and all this is my fault!”

“I didn’t mean it like that” he whispered.

“You never mean it Aden that’s half of the problem. You call me a skank and you don’t mean, you tell me you love me and you don’t mean it!”

“I love you” he blurted out in an instant reflex.

“I always mean that”

“Saying it isn’t enough Aden” she sighed.

“You have to show people you love them, like I’m showing Jamie...I love Jamie”

“I know you do”

“I love him so much. He’s so adorable with his cute dimples and those eyes and that little button nose like...like ...like a button” she giggled to herself.

“I love him” she sighed again.

“We’re going to the park tomorrow and I’m going to push him on the swings and catch him at the bottom of the slide, it’s going to be so much fun! And then we’re going to have dinner in The Diner...I would invite you but I don’t want to have dinner with you Aden” she announced before sitting up and whispering to him in a seductive tone.

“Just breakfast”

“Belle” he scolded her but at the same time a small, breathy laugh escaped from him.

“I know, I know!” she sighed dramatically.

“I’m being naughty, Bad Belle!” she scolded herself.

“I need my wrist slapping for that” she giggled holding out her wrist in front of his face.

“Belle, I’m not slapping you”

“Slap me!” she ordered in frustration and he tapped her wrist gently in an attempt to fob her off.

“You slap like a girl!” she giggled.

“A really weak girl...I bet Melody slaps like that”

Aden threw back his head and chuckled in amusement, his baby blue eyes sparkling.

“I bet she does too”

“I didn’t really want to sleep with Geoff” she whispered quietly.

“I know”

“I just wanted to feel like somebody loved me”

“I love you”

“Stop saying that”

“It’s true”

“I want someone to love me and for that to be enough Aden, I don’t want to be second best”

“Belle, you will never be second best” he told her adamantly.

“Then stop treating me like I am!”

“I’m sorry” he sighed, slowly shaking his head.

“I don’t know how we ended up in this mess”

“You carried me in here” she chuckled as she gestured around her to the messy state of her bedroom.

“Messy life, messy bedroom!”

“It’s all my fault” he murmured.

“Yes it is!” she agreed, nodded her head enthusiastically before giggling.

“Clean up my room now!”

“Belle” he laughed.

“I’m serious. I wish I knew how to get out of this without hurting anyone”

“Someone’s always going to get hurt” she whispered suddenly serious.

“And right now it’s my turn. Can someone else take a turn on the rota soon please?”

“I think we’re working the same shifts” he smiled as she sat up and inched closer to him.

“I’m hurting, you’re hurting. Neither of us has to hurt Aden, you chose this”

“I’m married” he whispered bluntly.

“You didn’t seem to have a problem ending your marriage to me!”

“I thought you didn’t love me”

“And do you really think Kirsty loves you? That if Kane hadn’t died at the formal that night that she would be married to you? Aden I love you and I want you but I won’t keep begging you. If you don’t

want me then you have to stay away”

“I do want you” he sighed.

“But I wish I didn’t Belle. I wish that I wasn’t being such a jerk to you and to Kirsty”

“You’re not a jerk” she sighed.

“I wish you were, I wish I could at least think you were so that I could hate you but I don’t”

“I want you” she told him, gently pressing her lips against his.

“I want you to be next to me when I wake up in the morning and when I go to sleep at night, I want to be able to kiss you whenever and wherever I want, I want to be able to make love to you and not

have a massive fight about it afterwards, I wa-“

“Don’t” he interrupted, burying his head in his hands , perplexed.

“I’m so confused Belle”

“Aden” she told him, as she got up and pulled him to his feet, pushing his towards the window.

“The next time someone calls you about me, even if I’m in danger of losing life or limb, just call someone else. Don’t come”

“Bel-“

“I mean it!” she yelled, pushing him until he had no choice but to climb out of the window.

“We’re over Aden and now we have closure” she told him bluntly before she slammed the window shut and locked it tight.

“Literally!”

[Taniya_K]

Always! Just when I think they're heading somewhere good, you make that happen!

Another great update! Drunk Belle was too good! Seriously, just as funny, or maybe more so, than last time!

Loved the fluffy bits, but I just wish Aden would stop saying 'I'm married' and using it as an excuse! He loves her and wants her... Stupid stubborn man!

Cannot wait for more.

xoxo

[bailey4]

OMG!!!!!! im speechless, im am your number 1 fan, seriously! That was the most amazing chapter EVER!! I don't have a favourite part cause it was all sooooo good